BJ and Phil arrived in tin-tops! The Italian Club was there in numbers, making our little group look somewhat sad! But we made up for it with quality! More than half of us were on BMWs!

Safety and staying-upright were paramount. So we headed out via Lilydale - avoiding the Sideling, its ice and snow - for Scottsdale and a warm cup of coffee. Ok, so some had fish 'n chips, others filled rolls. Some of us actually bought lunch and took it with us.

From Scottsdale - the weather was now quite beautiful - we headed up to Legerwood, across to Branxholm, and then up the Derby Back Road to Winnaleah. We stopped at Herrick for a re-group, although we had stayed pretty much together for the entire morning.

Out through the thriving metropolis of Pioneer and then South Mt Cameron we toured, finally arriving at the Blue Lake, just this side of Gladstone.

The Lake lived up to its name quite vividly. It really is a spectacular setting, getting its colour from a combination of blue-sky and the white clay. This is an old disused tin mine site which has been rehabilitated exceptionally well. I think this is what protection of the environment is all about, and those that undertook the rehab should be congratulated. Indeed, the whole area was mined for tin but today the average punter would not even know.

A brief look around the site and then it was onto Gladstone for lunch.

Now Gladstone is a one pub, one corner store, one petrol station, one house town! Well, maybe more than one house but believe me, the one house that stands out is the one on the other corner, the one with the rock wall fence, and the one with the three of four locals on the veranda sucking on the amber fluids!

One of our number compared Gladstone with Rossarden. The similarities are very evident. However, the one difference is when you go to Rossarden, people disappear indoors! At Gladstone, they come out!

Notwithstanding, the corner store did supply a lovely lunch and we all were ready for home by 2 pm. The Fearsome one hoed into a hamburger which looked like it had been prepared at Maccas!

On the way home we stopped at Derby for an ice-cream! Our final stop was at Nunamara, again for an ice-cream! (Mind you, the Dim Sims were OK too).

Home at about 3.45 pm and another 260 clicks on the machine. Great company, a great ride and terrific weather.

Stay Upright
Benny

We back roaded our way to Deloraine via Bracknell and Porters Bridge Road where we met a group of riders out doing what we all love doing on Sundays - going for a ride! Walter - without wife Sonia, or is it Helen?....no, it's Karen - hoed into fish 'n chips! No Brekky eh mate?

From there we went over the Deloraine Bridge, up to Meander (missing the turn off on the way) and worked out way up to Mole Creek via all those beautiful back roads. If it hadn't been for the quick thinking Guy, we might have ended up in the Huntsman Lake! We also inadvertently ruined Bruce's ride, scheduled for July 4! So that's been changed. See the Message Board.

From Mole Creek it was up through the Mole Creek Karst National Park, Liena and to the Mt Roland lookout. A brief stop here was not long enough to satisfy Kevin-07 who wanted to stay and look around. Unfortunately, the five minute bell rang early and we left there, headed down into West Kentish and finally into Sheffield.

Riding conditions were challenging with lots of water, leaves, gravel, sharp corners, slippery roads and sunlight making concentration rather paramount to staying upright! But we all did, and our stop in Sheffield was delightful.

A counter lunch of rissoles and chips did the job.

On the way home we went via Kimberley and Weetah before taking the old Bass Highway into Westbury for the customary ice-cream and/or coffee.

At Weetah, we nearly had a mishap when several of us missed a right-hander doing a few more clicks that was necessary! Nevertheless, an inch is as good as a mile (....whew!) and we all got home safely!

Another great day out. Three hundred more clicks on the clock and home by 4.30 pm.

PS - it must be winter because there was not a woman in sight! Now come on girls, as Big Bad Bruce would say, "toughen-up!"

Stay Upright
Benny

Therefore, we will not mention that Kevin-07 is the only person in the whole wide world that has been locked IN the Woolnorth homestead! Luckily, our Woolnorth Tour Guide forgot something and had to go back to the homestead to get it!

Alas, that was the only mishap I am going to mention.

Overall, we had a fabulous weekend. The weather was perfect - although admittedly a little cold, our accommodation was great, the scenery was spectacular, the company was awesome and the food and red wine of the highest quality.

The group was Bruce and Brenda, Kev, Guy, Gary and Eileen and Linda and I. Our adventure started at the Detention River Road House, where we lunched on fish 'n chips and other suitable junk food. We has ridden up from Lonnie, stopping at Sassafras and Burnie on the way.

Following lunch it was into the Dip Falls, 20 odd k's past Mawbanna. These falls are quite spectacular. They are a little out of the way, but put them in your diary as a 'must see'. They are as good as any falls I have seen in Tassie.

From there it was into Stanley for our first night. Bruce & Brenda, Kev and Linda and I stayed at the Stanley Hotel, a beautiful old, but top quality establishment, and very highly recommended.

Guy and the Rices stayed in their mobile homes at the Stanley caravan park just 100 meters from the hotel. On the Saturday night we dined at the hotel bistro on very good food and wine.

The next morning it was up and at em' early, riding the 90 odd k's up to the Woolnorth gates via Smithton. There, we were met by our guides in two very comfortable mini-buses. The tour took about two and a half hours and included the wind farms, the Woolnorth homestead and Cape Grim.

I rate the tour right up there with the very best. The guides were informative; the history of the place is very interesting and the scenery breathtaking. It never ceases to amaze me that we go all over the country but ignore the absolute magnificence of our own State!

After the tour, we headed back to Smithton for a quick lunch, then rode the 60 odd k's down to Arthur River. This is a beautiful little seaside village, full of good quality shacks, again great scenery and of course, the rugged West Coast and its associated ruggedness.

It's hear where the beautiful Arthur River, and its brown stained waters from the Tasmanian wilderness meet the sea. There is something like 12,000 kilometres of water and winds separating the Tasmanian West Coast and the nearest landmass! (South America). The quantity and size of the timber washed up on shore is to be seen to be believed. Here the fierceness of the winds and power of the sea are evident everywhere you look.

From Arthur River we went north to Marrawah, another quaint and historical village. A light stubbie was consumed in the hotel - only because one just has to have a stubbie in Tasmania's most westerly hotel, and then on to the magnificent, unspoilt and beautiful beach.

It was a long day by the time we got back to the hotel at Stanley, and dusk was certainly falling, along with some very, very cold air!

So, a shower and another huge feed was required.

On Monday morning we rose a little later and a little more leisurely. Brekky of bacon, eggs and tomatoes was superb in the little shop opposite the hotel.

On the way home we stopped for morning tea/bruch at Boat Harbour. Guy insisted that the brown rocks just exposing their tips in the lightly rolling sea were seals. Ok Guy, we believe you!

Along the coast, we rode the back roads, going down through Wynyard, Sulphur Creek, Ulverstone, Forth and into Devonport without hitting the highway. Mind you, we did call into the Lactos Cheese factory at Burnie, but only to lighten our pockets of petty case and taste a little of the very best in cheeses.

From Lactos it was a straight, non-stop run from there to Andys at Westbury for our final stop and get-together.

All in all, a fabulous weekend. The company was great, the weather kind and the conditions just about perfect.

Just another weekend in paradise. We took lots of pikkies which are on our web site.

Stay Upright
Benny

Walter turned up at the start without either of his wives!

The route was via White Hills and Evandale where we were joined by Guy McKibbon as we rode past his gate. He was standing there holding an intelligent conversation with a horse when we arrived! I wonder what they were talking about? No doubt it was politics or sex.

We went to Longford via a round about route for a morning tea break at the "Rebel Roadhouse".

The coffee here must have been a bit too strong for someone who managed to disgrace them self on our departure by placing their motorcycle on it's side complete with pillion passenger. A most unusual occurrence eh Brenda? Definitely no way to treat a lady in my opinion.

The next stop was at Deloraine for lunch after another tour of some back roads and somewhere in that section I was surprised to find that Benny had hijacked Marion and Bill was riding solo when we arrived?

Everyone ate lots of healthy food while sitting outside the cafe in the sun near the train. We received a phone call from John Frearson while we were there, who seems to have arrived at the rail yards after we had gone, and wondered where we were. I suggest John that you get new batteries for your watch or a watch with bigger numerals now that you are officially over the hill. Oh and by the way, happy sixtieth birthday from us all.

Bill repossessed Marion and they, together with Bruce and Brenda, headed of independently from the rest of the group who motored on to Exeter bakery (after traveling a few more back roads) where John was waiting patiently for us, for afternoon tea.

The ride terminated here and we made our own way's home after consuming more food and drink laced with a lot of discussion on various topics. I enjoyed both the day and the company and thank all those who participated.

Stay safe,
Beejay.

I think my main mistake was to stop and do a head count. I had seen other more experienced ride leaders do it, so I thought why not. With this in mind, I pulled over on the slip road that leads from Bass Highway to Pateena Road, got off my bike and started counting. I got to 11 and then ran out. Oh no, I had already managed to lose 2 riders and we had not even left Launceston.

It got worse, I had not only lost Tail End Charlie, but I had also managed the Treasurer/Vice President to boot. As I pondered what to do, one of our more experienced members rode up to offer advice. I couldn't work out why he laughed out loud, when I asked if was there a precedent or some Ulyssean Protocol that I could follow in these circumstances.

My other claim to fame, lies with the fact that Tail End Charlie arrived at Campbell Town before the ride leader and the rest of the riders. They told me when I joined Ulysses that the convention was for the ride leader to arrive first and Tail End Charlie to arrive last.

When I finally got my act together, we had a great ride along the Lake Leake Highway, (so good in fact that we came the same way back). It was a bit fresh along the way and I did hear murmurings when we reached Swansea about long johns and thermal underwear.

Fish and chips were delightful and debate took place between the merits of the Swansea variety or those to be had from Pedro's at Ulverstone or the Captain's Catch at St Helens.

The rest of the ride was uneventful enough and I managed to get back to Campbell Town with the remaining riders intact. Actually, thinking about it, there was a net gain of 3 as we hooked up with Benny, Ros and John on the way home.

One good thing though, I think Benny will think twice when selecting ride leaders in future. I forgot to tell him that as well as being having a penchant for losing people, I have no sense of direction either.

Cheers
Kevin

It was beautiful. Eight of us met at Inveresk including four two-ups, for a leisurely ride down to Shearwater for lunch. Malcolm made a rare appearance - obviously aware of the spectacular weather!

We went down the East Tamar Highway, detouring down the Los Angelos Road, and then down Leam Road through Hillwood and back to the highway. From there it was over the Batman Bridge, down through Kayena, onto the Auburn Road and into Beaconsfield.

There we met the Rices and our old mate Bob from Greens Beach. (Sorry Bob, there were no 'cruisers' around).

Now Beaconsfield is a nice peaceful little town, but it was severely disturbed when a certain pillion decided to leap off the bike and fall flat on her back in the main street! We never mention these little 'happenings' in our ride reports Cecilia, so I won't mention it here.

A half hour coffee break saw us then head up through Holwell onto the Frankford Highway and into Shearwater. 'Kevin 07' had a rush of blood through Holwell, getting to the Highway a little ahead of the rest of us! Good on 'ya mate.

At Shearwater, Walter and Helen checked their caravan, Ricey and Mrs Ricey headed back to Lonnie to watch their grandson play footy, Byron shot off to Devonport to check out caravans, and Bob went to visit a 'cousin' never to be seen again!

Hamburgers, fish 'n chips and all other sorts of delicacies were consumed. After lunch, we seven bikes then went via East Devonport and Ambleside to Latrobe, up to Railton, the Bridle Track Road to Kimberley, then over the Weegena Road and onto the Bass Highway. A quick run down to Westbury for our final stop saw the day coming to an end. We had travelled some 300 km.

I cannot remember seeing the country side so clear and crisp. It really was spectacular and was quite a memorable day out.

As usual, great company.

Stay Upright.
Benny

We headed down the East Tamar Highway, meeting up with the Rices at the Bridport turnoff at Bell Bay. From there we cruised along to the Pipers River Road and then down the Lilydale Road to Scottsdale.

A long, relaxed morning tea was called for as the Pub in the Paddock could not get us in until 1.15 pm. As it was, we got there at about 10 to 1 and spent a very leisurely half hour or so sitting around in the beautiful Autumn afternoon sipping the odd Red and a couple of light beers.

As usual, the Pub put on a great meal including fisherman's baskets, local Roo Patties, Schnitzels, pork sausages and fish patties. I think the pub may be under new management as the usual woman was not there behind the bar. (Service was a lot slower too!!)

By the time it was time to head home, we were too late to do the round trip via St Helens and the Fingal valley. But that didn't stop a couple of the boys, who headed off for the sprint home.

The remainder of us headed back via the Welborough and Pyengana Passes although it was noticeable that our usual riding pattern had gone out the window and it was a matter of 'brown's cows' heading for home.

A few of us stopped at Scottsdale for an afternoon coffee but nothing was open!! And the planned stop to farewell our mate Stefan Antell could therefore not go ahead. (No-one was there!)

Regardless, I know all will join me in wishing the 'big fella' all the best. He is heading home to Finland to have an operation and a bit of time off. With a bit of luck, he will be back in August.

So that was it! Home James!

Bit of an anti climax really. Mind you, it was a good ride, a good feed out there and a good day out weather wise.

Stay Upright
Benny